Method of and apparatus for protecting insulating bushings of a dehydrator



March 9, 1937. c KlEcH 2,072,888

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING INSULATING BUSHINGS OF A DEHYDRATOR Filed March 26, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 T254 T150 47 EIYULS/ON March 9, 1937. c. F. KIECH 2,072,888

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING INSULATING BUSHINGS OF A DEHYDRATOR Filed March 26, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /z mmo CLHET/VCE A Knsce Patented- UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE TECTDIG INSULATING BUSHINGS OF A DEHYDBATOR Clarence F. Kiech, Pasadena, Calif Petroleum' Rectifying Company of California, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California My invention relates to the art of electrically treating emulsions to separate the phases therev of, and includes a novel method and-apparatus which is particularly applicable to an emulsion xtials is protected iromcontact with the body of conducting medium in the wet zone of the tank.

In accomplishing such results I have found it desirable to maintain a stream of a dielectric in the, art from the following description.

one phase of which comprises a conductingliquid medium around the conductor, means in such a 5 and the other phase oi'which comprises 'a relamanner as to protect the insulator means, and tively less conducting liquid, usually a material the provision of such a system is included in the having a relatively high dielectric strength. objects of the present invention.

More particularly, ,the invention relates to a In the preferred embodiment of the invention 10 new system for protecting an" insulator means in a downward extending boot is utilized in the up- 10 a dehydrator tank whether this insulator. means per portion of the tank, this boot extending combe in the form of an insulatingbushing or a pletely through the body of conducting liquid in string of insulators. a the upper end of the tank, and it is an object of For the purpose of illustration, and without in the present invention to circulate a dielectric any way limiting myself thereto, the invention medium in this boot so that the insulator means 15 will be particularly described in conjunction with is at-all times protected and kept clean. the treatment of tar emulsions such as are pro- It is a further object of the invention to sepaduced in the manufacture of artificial gas or in s rate from such astream of dielectric medium any certain by-product coke-ovens, or in similar proccontaminating particles, this being most convenesses. The invention is particularly-applicable iently done by establishing an electric field in- 20 to such emulsions, or to any emulsion wherein the side the boot o1 suflicient intensity to coalesce material forming the conducting phase is of these particles into masses of sufilcient size to lower density than the material forming the other gravitate from the dielectric medium.

phase, but is not limited in utility to such emul-.- It is a further object of the present invention 8 to circulate in such a boot a stream of dielectric 25 It is an object of the present invention to promedium, at least a portion of this stream being vide a method and apparatus for introducing high collected at one section of the boot and recycled p tentials'into a tank, such as a dehydrator tank, into the boot at another section. without danger of contamination of the insulator It is a further object of the invention to mainmeans to such an extent as to "render it, inoperatain a storage zone into which may move at 30 tive to insulate the high potentials employed. least a portion 01' the dielectric medium which In the electric dehydration of tar emulsions flows around the insulator means, and to move it is often desirable to separate the emulsion conthe dielectric medium in this storage zone into stituents in the same tank that treating takes the boot to establish a recirculation'system.

5 place. If this method of procedure is followed, A further object of the invention is to provide the water or aqueous phase, consisting of subsuch a storage zone in the extreme upper end of Stantially p W r 1' a sol ti n f water and the tankso thatfthe upper end oi. the tank conorganic or inorganic substances .or both, will rise tains a body of dielectric medium above the body to the upper end of the tank and form a body of conducting medium, and to extend the boot 6 of water, while the tar phase will drop to the downward from the body of dielectric medium and 40 lower end of the tank and form a body of tar. completelythrough the body of conducting liquid. These bodies of tar and water will ordinarily be In other instances, however, it is possible to separated by a body of treated emulsion which use as a dielectric medium the tar phase which is undergoing gravitational separation. Thus, has accumulated in the lower portion of the '45 a body of conducting liquid is formed in an upper tank,.recycling a portion of this tar in protecting or wet zone in the'tank, while a body of liquid of relationship with the insulator means, this conrelatively lower conductivity is formed in a lower struction and method of operation being included zone below this upper zone, this lower zone ordiin the objects of the present invention. narily containing two more or less distinctly sep- Further objects of the invention lie in the o0 arated bodies of liquid. structures utilized for setting up a flow of dlelec- It is an object of the present invention to protric medium in protecting relationship with an vide a novel method and apparatus wherein the insulating means. high potentials areintroduced through that end. Still further objects and advantages of the of the tank containing the wet zone and wherein invention willbe made evident to those skilled the conductor means carrying these high poten- 5'6 Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of one form of dehydrator incorporating the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional viewtaken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

storage zone l3 containing a dielectric medium which may be either a dielectric oil, a dielectric gas, or any other dielectric fluid, the term fluid in this connection being used in its broadest sense as including both liquids and gases. This dielectric medium should be relatively immiscible with respect to the conducting phase-liquid. of the emulsion. fIhe lower level of this storage zone l3, and thelower level of the dielectric medium,

is indicated by the line A-A.

Below the storage zone I3 is a wet zone it containing a body of water or other conducting phase-liquid. The extreme lower end of the tank provides a dry zone l5 containing the tar or other phase-liquid of the emulsion which is of relatively poor conductivity. Between the zones Id and iii is an intermediate zone I6 which'usually con tains a body of treatedemulsion which is undergoing gravitational separation. In Fig. 1 the line 13-13 indicates the boundary between the zones i4 and I6, while'thefline C-C indicates the boundary between the zones ,l 5 and i6. Suitably valved pipes land it may be used for respectively withdrawing the water and the tar from the tank Ill.

The incoming emulsion flows through a pipe 20 to any suitable electrode structure positioned in the-zone it. In the form shown this electrode structure includes a lower grounded electrode 2| secured to an upward extending portion 22 of the pipe 20, and an upper live electrode 25. In the form shown these electrodes are of conical shape with apices downward and cooperate in defining a treating space 26 intothe central portion of which the emulsion is introduced. When an. electric fleld is maintained in this treating space the dispersed particles of the incoming emulsion will be coalesced due to the action of this field, sothatwhen the treated emulsiondischarges from the outer portion of the treatingspace 26, as indicated by the arrow 21. the dispersed phase has been coalesced to a sufilcient degree to permit gravitational separation in the zone l6.

In order to energize the live electrode 25 it is of course necessary to introduce high potentials into the tank Ill. In the form shown this is accomplished' by the provision of an insulator means 30extending'through the top wall ll of the tank. Thisdnsulator means may take the form of an insulatingbushing as shown or. may merely comprise one 'or moreinsulators utilizedinsupporting the insulator means .30 and extends downward in the tank to energize the live electrode 25. Ia-have found lt preferable to utilizethis'conductor means for supporting live electrode, rather than 4'6- ao'lasse terminal of which is grounded to the tank ill and thus electrically connected to the grounded electrode 2|. It will be clear that any suitable source can be used'for establishing the electric fleid in'the treating space 23, the transformer 33 being merely one of a large number of potentialsupply or potential-controlling means finding utility in the electric treatment of emulsions.

To protect the insulator means 30 and the conductor means 3| from the body of conducting liquid, such as the body of water contained in the zone i4, I provide a boot 35 extending downward in the tank I and providing a lower open end 38 which terminates at a section below the wet zone It. The upper end of this boot may, if desired, be'secured to the upper wall ii of the tank Ill in fluid-tight relationship.

The invention comprehends the provision of a flow of dielectric medium in a chamber 31 defined by the boot. This may be accomplished by introducing the dielectric medium into one portion of the boot and allowing it. to flow from another portion thereof. In the form shown the incoming dielectric medium flows through a. pipe 39 into an annular discharge means around the insulating means 33, this discharge means being shown in the form of an annular pipe 40 having perforations 4i that the incoming dielectric medium washes the outer surface of the insulating means 30. Any means for introducing the dielectric medium into the chamber 31. can be used,

though usually it is preferable to introduce this dielectric medium in such a manner as to form an envelope of liquid flowing downward along the insulator means 30.

If desired, dielectric medium may bev continuously supplied to the pipe 39 as by a pump 42. driven by any suitable means not shown, this dielectric medium then flowing downward through the boot 35 and being discharged from the lower end thereof. As the dielectric medium is of lower density than any of the emulsion constituents, it will rise from the open lower end 36 of the boot to the storage zone l3 formed above the line A-A. in the annular space between the perforations 4! for discharging the dielectric medium. It is often advantageous to so position theboot 35 and the tank It. If desired, this dielectric withdrawing a portion of the dielectric mediumbefore it is discharged into the space around the boot 35. In the form shown an annular pipe 46 is suitably connected to the lower end of I the boot 35 as by being welded thereto or bein jconnected thereto by brackets 41, this pipeproviding ports ...48 opening on -;thev lowerend ofythe chamber 31.

In the preferred operatiomfla pprtion, but;not necessarily, all, of the dielectric-medium is withdrawn through the ports and is; returnedv to the intake of the. pump. 42- through; a pipe. 49 4- including avalve 50.; If only a; portion. of; the

dielectric medium is thus withdrawn through the ports 48, the balanceof this dielectric medium will flow downward through the lower open end of the boot 35, as indicated by the arrows 52, and will rise through the zone i5 and i4 imtil it reaches the storage zone l3. This mode of operation prevents any possibility of an accumulation of water adjacent the lower end of the boot 35 which might tend to form a short-circuiting path between this boot and the conductor means 3i. the pump 42 canbe made to withdraw dielectric medium both through the ports 48 and from the storage zone i3. In other instances it is possible to recirculate only that portionoi the dielectric medium moving through the ports 53, removing and discarding any excess dielectric medium I- reaching the storage zone l3. A pipe 53 can be such a baflle which extends upward to a point used in this regard. The annular pipe 48 serves another function in that it tends to equalize the electrical stresses adjacent the lower end of the boot 35, rather than allowing these stresses to concentrate adjacent a rather sharp lower edge thereof. Any suitable indicating means, not shown, can be used for indicating to the operator the positions of the levels A-A, B-B, and 0-0, and by proper manipulation of the valves shown, these levels can be maintained approximately as shown. 7

To further prevent any possibility of particles of water or other conducting liquid moving upward in the zone l6 and toward the lower open end of the boot 35, a suitable baiile structure may be provided for guiding the rising water particles from the open end of this boot. This baffle structure may take the form of a conical baflle secured to the conductor means 3| and spaced from the lower end of the boot 35. The live electrode 25 can be made to serve this purpose either with or' without a cylindrical bailie 55 secured thereto. As shown, this live electrode is equipped with just above the lower end of the boot 35. In some instances the upper end of the baille 55 may terminate a short distance belowthe lower end of the boot 35. Water particles moving upward in the zone l6 are thus guided from the vicinity of the lower open end of the boot 35. If desired, openlugs 56 may be provided in the baille 55 to drain the tar or heavier phase-liquid therefrom. llsually, however, such-openings are not necessary if a circulation system is used.

Another feature of this construction is that the dielectric medium flowing through the boot 35 is continuously subjected to a dehydrating action during the operation of the treater. Thus,

an electric fleld is maintained around the cobductor means 3i, this field being bounded either by the boot 35 acting as a grounded electrode if this boot is made of .metal, or by the body of conducting liquid acting as an outer electrode if the boot is madeof insulating material. Such an electric field acts to coalesce any contaminating liquid particles which might become associated with the dielectric medium. These conducting particles will be of a density greater than the dielectric medium and will thus drop in'the chamber 31. Coalesced particles will be carried out by the stream of dielectric medium moving as indicated by the arrows 52 and will rise in the zone i5 due to the fact that these particles are .of lower density than the emulsion in this zone. If a gas is used as a dielectric medium, any contaminating particles will be moved toward one or the other of the electrodes setting up this fleld By proper setting of the valves 45 and 53,-

' in the boot and will collect thereon, dropping to the lower open end of this boot and-thus moving into the zone i5. Thus, the dielectric medium is continuously purified by the electric field established around the conductor means 3|.

' In Fig. 3. I- have illustrated an alternative form of the invention including a modified form of circulating means. Inthisiormof the invention the zones i3, ll, l5, and it provided. the electrode structure being of somewhat different construction from that shown in Fig. 1. This electrode structure may include a grounded electrode 'Il secured to the tank and providing a plurality of concentric rings H. A live electrode 12 also provides a series of concentric rings I3 preferably out of alignment with the rings Ii. The grounded electrode provides a central opening 15 through which the conductor means 3i extends.

In this form no annular pipe 55- need be provided at the lower end of the boot 35, all of the excess dielectric medium supplied to the chamber 31 flowing from the lower end of the boot and rising as indicated by the arrows 15. In many instances, however, it is advisable to use an annular ring 15 at the lower end of this bootto prevent excessive concentration of any electric field formed there adjacent. In this form of the invention it is preferable, although not in all instances necessary, to use a dielectric oil as the dielectric medium, this oil collecting above the level A-A in the storage zone i3- In order to circulate the dielectric mediumfa U-shaped pipe 18 is provided one leg 18a of which carries a funnel l9 and opens on the storage zone I 3 above the level A-A. The other leg 13b of th s pipe communicates with the annular pipe 40 around the insulating means3il. The leg 18b is jacketed by a coiled pipe through which the.

,emuls on is always several degrees hotter than the liquid in the dehydrator tank, and this temperature diil'erential is relied upon to hermally circulate the dielectric medium in this form of the invention. Thus, the dielectric medium in the jacketed leg 13b of the U-shaped i e 13 will be hotter than the liquid in the other leg 13a of this pipe. thus causing a thermal circulation of the dielectric medium. this circulation being indicated by arrows 52. It will be understood that a large flow of dielectric medium is not necessary, it being only desirable to provide a slow flow suflicient to prevent any conducting particles from entering the chamber 31. If desired. a bailie '85 may be provided below the npenlower end of the boot" to guide any conducting particles from this lower end. So also, if desired, the jacketed leg Ila of the pipe 13. as well as the coiled pipe ll, may be surrounded by a layer of heat-insulating material so as to prevent cooling of the incoming emulsion to such an extent that the desired thermal circulation would not be set up. Usually, however, this is not necessary.

The form of the invention shown in F g. 4 is similar to that shown in Fig. 3, except for the means for setting up the circulation of the dielectric medium. In this form the incoming emulsion flows through a pipe 35 in which is positioned a turbine screw 5i secured to a rotatable shaft 92 suitably journalled in this pipe-.1 This shaft extends through a stufilng box 93 and into the interior of the dehydrator tank. The incoming emulsion is moved through the pipe 90 which are in turn supported by a frame H6 of under pressure, and this how of incoming emulsion causes the shaft 92 to rotate. A pump St is operativelyconnected to the shaft 92 and provides an intake pipe 95 communicating with the zone I3 in the upper end of the tank to withdraw dielectric medium therefrom. The discharge of this pump communicates with a pipe 91 which in turn communicates with the chamber 3'! inside the boot 35." N annular pipe III is shown around the insulating'..i ii;a ,ns 30 in this form of the invention, though one can be used, if desired, following the teachings of Fig. 1. Thedielectric medium thus moves downward. through the chamber 31 and is discharged from the lower end thereof, moving upward in the zones I6 and I4 tov the storage zone I3. In this form of the in-. vention dielectric medium may comprise either a liquid or a gas. In the latter instance, the pump 94 will be in the form of a blower.

In this form of the invention the energy required to circulate the dielectric medium is derived from the pump already installed for forclng emulsion into the tank. It will be understood, however, that the invention comprehends: the'use of any other recirculating system for circulating the dielectric medium through the boot 35.

Inthe form of the invention shown in Fig. 5 the boot 35 extends downward to a point near the lowerend of the tank, and extends below the level C-C so that the open lower end of this boot communicates with the phase-liquid of relatively poor conductivity. The electrode structure shown includes an upper grounded electrode H providing a plurality of concentric rings III. Positioned below-this grounded electrode is an auxiliary electrode II2 mounted on a frame H3 and providing concentric rings IM extending upward and. downward therefrom. The frame .I I3 is supported on strings of insulators II5 another auxiliary electrode I i! which also provides upward and downward extending concentric rings I I8. The frame H6 is insulated from the tank by any suitable means. In the form shown strings of insulators I 20 are secured to the boot 35 and thus. carry the electrodes H2 and I. Still another auxiliary electrode I24 is positioned below the electrode II! and comprises a frame I25 with upward extending annular rings I23 thereon.- The frame I25 may besupported on rods I21-which are suitably insulated from the tank as by strings of insulators I28.

Such a construction permits the maintenance of electric fields'of difierent' magnitude in the it'desirable to positiona plurality of conductor means inside of the b oot 35;f Three of these conductor means are shownyindi'cated respec t'ively by the numerals" I3Il, I3I, and I32. These conductor means extend from the'lower end of the boot 35 and are-respectivelyconnected to the electrodes II'I, I24, and" I I2. Three insulating bushings 13s are provided this boot. --'-'With such an electrode system various electrical hook-ups may be'utilized. The particular at the upper end of hook-up shown includes a transformer I40 one terminal of whichis 'grou'ndedto the tank and .terminal being 'connected'to the conductor means I22.anc l thus-to theelectrode H2. Thistransis thus connectedztoxtheeletztrode III), the other former thus-sets up an electric field between the electrodes H0 and H2. Another transformer I 42 provides a high-tension winding connected between the conductor-means I30, I3I, thus setting up an electric field between the electrodes II! and I24. This field may usually be of greater intensity than the field between the electrodes I I0 and H2 due t6 the fact that a portion of the conducting phase-liquid has already separated from the emulsion before this emulsion enters this high intensity field.

In this form of the invention the dielectric medium is withdrawn from the storage zone I3 as by a pump I60 and is moved into the boot 35, the excess dielectric medium discharging from the lower open end of this boot. and flowing upward through the zones I5, IQ, and I4 to the storage zone I3. This dielectric medium may be either a gas or a liquid relatively immiscible with the emulsion constituents. In this form of the invention the emulsion flows through a pipe IBI and is discharged from a perforated annular pipe I62 to flow downward intodshe electric fields.

It is sometimes possible with certain emulsions to use as a dielectric medium the phase-liquid of relatively poor conductivity. Thus, in a tar dehydrator it is sometimes possible to withdraw tar from the lower end of the tank, circulating this tar through the boot 35 in protecting relationship; Such a construction is shown in Fig. 6

in which the lower end. of the tank defines a extending downward to communicate with the lower end of the tank at a position which is preferably slightly above the pipe III. The intake of this pump is also shown as communicating with a pipe I15 including a valve I16 and through which a dielectric medium may be pumped when this valve is open. So also the intake of this pump III is shown as communicating with a pipe I19-including a valve I80, thispipe opening on the upper end of the tank. The discharge of the pump III is connected by a pipe I8I to the interior of the boat 35; this boot being shown as extending to a position below the level DD, though this is not necessarily the case, as pointed out abpve.

When a treater such as shown in Fig. 6 is first put into operation it is often desirable to be able into the boot 35. If desired, this dielectric me-- closed and the valve I80 opened, in which event the circulating system will be substantially as hereinbefore disclosed. After the dehydrator has come into operation, and a body of tarhas been formed in the lower end of the tank, it is entirely possible to close the valve IBII-and open the valve -I'I3 so that the pump intakes from the lower end .of the tank, circulatin" tarnorYother heavier phase-liquid of sufilcient dielectric strength through the ;boot 35.-. If the boot is extended mg such a heavy 5 connecting the 3 the pipe I12 by this body of tar. The

respect to the tar.

below the level D-D, the tar will be discharged from the lower end of the boot 35 directly into the body of tar. If the boot does not extend to the .level D-D, the stream of tar will drop downward directly from the lower end of the boot to tar which is thus drawn into the pump i'li has been already subjected to a settling action so that any sludge will have been separated therefrom, so that no difiiculty is encountered due to sludge accumulating around the insulator means in the boot 35. As the treater continues to function, the dielectric material which was preliminarily added can be withdrawn from the upper end of-the tank through the pipe 53 or can be maintained in this upper end of the tank as desired. It will be clear that in some instances it is not necessary to supply such a preliminary dielectric medium, especially if the lower end of the tank is preliminarily filled with a body of tar.

If a dielectric o is used as the dielectric medium, this oil will tend to accumulate in the upper end of the tank above the body of water. It should not be understood, however, that any of the forms of the invention are limited to the use of a dielectric medium which is of lower density than the water. In some instances it is possible to use a dielectric medium which is of even greater density than the tar in which event this dielectric medium will accumulate in the extreme lower end of the tank below the body of tar. The system shown in Fig. 6 can be used for recirculatdielectric medium by .merely intake pipe I12 to the extreme lower end of the tank. In this instance it is desirable, although not necessary, that the heavy dielectric medium be relatively immiscible with As an illustration of a dielectric medium which can be successfully used and which is still somewhat miscible with the tar,

this event the thick material may move very slowly from the open lower end of the boot 35 and again be almost immediately withdrawn through making this pipe of larger diameter than shown in Fig. 6 and extending to withdraw the stream of viscous dielectric almost as soon as it is discharged from the boot. Only the periphery of this stream of viscous dielectric material discharged from the boot will contact the tar, and thus no excessive intermixture between the tar and the di-electric medium will be efiecte'd.

It will be noted that in nearly all of the forms of the invention hereinabove described the treater in effect dehydrates or electrically treats two materials at the same time. One of these materials (i. e., the dielectricmedium) is electrically treated inside the boot 35, while the other of these materials (1. e., in the space between the apron and the tank. Such --a simultaneous treatment of dissimilar emulsions may often be used to advantage, as where, for instance, a portion sired to remove therefrom. uch a dual function 1 of the-apparatus is believed to be new regardless of the two materials to be treated.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made in the forms of the invention herein shown without departing from the spirit of the the tar emulsion) is treated of the recirculated is continuously withdrawn" insulator means, one end mediuminsaidcharn ber through said ports.

invention. So also, the treaters and methods herein described can be used for treating a wide variety of emulsions, whether or not these emulsions contain tar. While the invention has been particularly described with reference to an emulsion in which the conducting phase is of lower density than the phase of low conductivity, it will be understood that the invention can be used in conjunction with other emulsions in which this relationship does not exist. Thus, if the conducting phase is the heavier phase, the boot may be extended upward from the bottom of the tank in protecting relationship with the insulator means positioned in the bottom of the tank, the open end of the boot then being in the upper end of the tank.

While I have shown the storage zone i3 in the upper end of the tank,- it will be understood that in many instances this storage zone may be formed exterior of the tank and made to communicate with the space between the tank and the boot 35. Usually, however, it is simpler to use the upper end of the tank itself in forming this storage zone.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electric treater, the combination of a tank; electrode means in said tank for establishing an electric field therein; an insulator means in said tank; an open-ended boot in said tank between said insulator means and said tank, said boot providing a chamber between itself and said insulator means, there being a space in one end of said tank around said boot, said space containing a dielectric medium; and I circulation means for setting up a closed circulation of said dielectric medium by continuously withdrawing dielectric medium from said space and introducing same into said chamber, at least a portion of said dielectric medium flowing from the open end of said boot and moving into said space.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 including means for delivering emulsion to said tank, and in which said last-named circulation means includes a recirculating pump means withdrawing dielectric medium from said space and introducing it into said chamber and includes means responsive to the flow of emulsion .to said tank to drive said recirculating, pump means.

3. In an electric treater, the combination of: a tank; electrode means in said tank for establishing an electric field therein; insulator means in said tank; a boot insaid tank around said insulator means, one end of said boot opening on the space inside said tank; walls defining one or more ports adjacent said one end of said boot and communicating with a chamber defined between said boot and said insulator means; and means for delivering a dielectric medium to said chamber, at least a portion of the dielectric medium in said chamber flowing from said chamber through said ports.

4. In an electric treater, the .combinationof z a tank; electrode means in said tank for establishing an electric field therein: insulator means in said tank; a boot in said tank around said of said boot opening on .the space inside said tank; walls defining one or more ports adjacent said one end of said boot and communicating with a chamber defined between said boot and said insulator means; means for delivering a dielectric medium to said chamber, at least a portion of .the dielectric r flowing from said chamand means for mycling said portion of said dielectric medium mov 'ing through said ports into said chamber.

5. In an electric treater, the combination of:

i a tank; electrode means in said tank for estabsaid boot and collecting'in a portion of said tank; and means for withdrawing dielectric medium from said portion of said tank.

6. A combination as defined in claim 5 including recirculating means communicating with said last-named means for recirculating |dielectric medium from said portion of said tank into said 'chamber formed between said insulator means downward in said and said boot. I

7. In combination with an electric .treater for emulsions and providing a tank containing a body of a dielectric material in the upper end th'ereof, a body of the conducting material formthe dispersed phase of said emulsion therebelow, and a body of the material forming the ;continuous phase of said emulsion in the bottom of said tank: a boot extending downward from the top of said tank and through said bodies of dielectric materialand conducting material and providing a lower end which opens on the interior of said tank at a section below said body of conducting material; conductor means extending boot and from the lower end thereof; an electrode structure in said tank and I energized through said conductor means; an insulator means associated with said conductor means and positioned in said boot; and a dielectric medium in said boot around said insulator means, any excess of said dielectric medium in said boot flowing from said lower end thereof and rising through said body of conducting liquid and into said body of dielectric medium in the upper end of said tank.

8. In combination with an electric treater for emulsions and providing a tank containing a body of a dielectric material in the upper end thereof, a body of the conducting material forming the dispersed phase of said emulsion therebelow, and

a body of the material forming the continuous phase of said emulsion in the bottom of said tank a boot extending downward from the top of said tank and through said bodies of dielectric material and conducting material and providing a lower end which opens on the interior of said tank at a section below said body of conducting material; conductor means extending downward in said boot and from the lower end thereof; an electrode structure in said tank and energized through said conductor means; an insulator means associated with said conductor means and positioned in said boot; and means for supplying an amount of dielectric medium to said boot in' excess'of the volumetric capacity of said boot whereby a portion of said dielectric medium flows 1 from said lower end of said boot and rises through said body of conducting liquid and into said body of dielectric medium in the upper end of said tank.

\ conducting material forming the 9. In combination with an electricltreater, for

emulsions and providing a'tank containing a body of a dielectric materialin the upper end thereof,

a body of the conducting material forming the dispersed phase of said emulsion therebelow, and a body of the material forming the continuous phase of said emulsion in the bottom of said tank:

a boot extending downward from the top of said tank and through said bodies of dielectric material and conducting material and providing a lower end which opens on the interior of said tank at a section below said body of conducting material; conductor means extending downward in said boot and from the lower end thereof;

an electrode structure in said tank and energized through said conductor means; an insulator means associated with said conductor means and positioned in said boot; means communicating with said body of dielectric medium in said upper end of said tank for introducing dielectric medium into said boot; and a perforated means at the bottom of said boot for withdrawing a portion of said dielectric medium, any excess dielectric medium flowing fromsaid lower end'of said boot and rising through said body of conducting liquid and into said body of dielectric medium in the upper end of said tank.

10. A method of introducing high potentials into a dehydrator tank providing a. downwardly extending boot therein, which method includes the steps of: maintaining a body of dielectric medium in the top of" said tank above the lower end of said boot; maintaining a conducting body of the liquid forming the dispersed phase of said emulsion immediately below said body of dielectric medium and above the lower end of said boot;

maintaining below said conducting body a body of emulsion undergoing gravitational settling; maintaining in the bottom of said tank and below said body of emulsion a body of the continuous phase liquid of said emulsion; introducing a high 1 potential into said tank throughthe space defined by said boot whereby thehigh potential is insulated from said body of conducting liquid by said boot; and establishing a high potential field in said body of emulsion.

' 11. A method as defined in claim' 10 including,

the-additional steps of, continuously introducing emulsion to be treated into said tank, and withdrawing the conducting liquid of said dispersed,

phase from said body of conducting liquid and the liquid of said'continuous phase from the lower end of said tank at such rates as to maintain the 'volume of said dielectric medium in said tank substantially constant.

12.- A, method of introducing high potentials into a dehydrator tank including a boot open at one end, which method includes the stepe' of: introducing a high potential into said tank through said boot; introducing a dielectric medium into one portion of said boot under suflicient pressure to circulate said dielectric medium through said boot and from said open end thereof; collecting in one end of said tank any excess dielectric medium discharged from said open end of said boot; andrecycling dielectric' medium from said .end of said tank into said boot.

13. In -combination with an electric'treater for' emulsions and providing a tank containing a body of gas in the upper end thereof, a-"body of the dispersed phase of said emulsion therebelow, and a body of the material forming the continuous'p'hase of said emulsion in the bottom of said tank: a boot extending downward from the topof'said tank and through said body of gas and through said body of conducting material and providing a lower open end which opens on the interior of said tank at a section below said body of conducting material; conductor means extending downward in said boot and from the lower end thereof; an electrode structure in said tank and energized through 'said conductor means; an insulator. means associated with said conductor means and positioned in said boot; and protecting means for said insulator means and including a body of said gas in said boot around said insulator means, any excess of said gas in said boot flowing from the lower end thereof and rising through said body of conducting liquid and into said body of gas in the upper end of said tank.

14. A method of treating an emulsion containing two phase liquids by the use of a tank and an insulator means therein, which method includes the steps of: introducing said emulsion into said tank; establishing an electric field in said tank of sufiicient intensity to act upon said emulsion;

and moving in washing relationship with said insulator means a stream of dielectric medium dissimilar to and substantially immiscible with either of said phase liquids so as not to be dissolved therein; collecting a body of said insulating medium in one end of said tank; and withdrawing said insulating medium from said one end of said tank and flowing same in washing relationship with said insulator means to form said stream.

15. A method of treating an emulsion containing two phase liquids by'the use of a tank containing emulsion and a boot providing an open end communicating with the interior of said tank, which method includes the steps of :-introducing a high potential into said tank through said boot; establishing an electric field'in said tank by the use of said high potential; continuously introducing a dielectric medium substantially immiscible with either phase liquid of said emulsion into one portion of said boot under suflicient pressure to fiow therethrough; continuously moving a streamof said dielectric'medium from said open end of said boot and into the emulsion constituents in said tank with sufficient velocity to prevent accumulations of. water particles adjacent the lower end of said boot;

I and separating said dielectric medium from said emulsion constituents, ,said separation taking place in bne end of said tank.

16. A method as defined in claim 10 in which said dielectric medium is dissimilar to either of said phase liquids of said emulsion, and including the step of circulating a stream of said dielectric medium downward through saidboot, any

electric field in said treating space of sufilcient intensity to coalesce the dispersed phase of said emulsion to produce a body of treated emulsion constituents; collecting said phase liquid of higher dielectric strength in a body at a position at one end of said body of treated emulsion constituents; collecting said phase liquid of low dielectric strength in a body at a position at the other end of said body of treated emulsion constituents; moving a stream of s aidl phaserliqmd to said collected mass of this phase liquid through said body of treated emulsion constituents.

18. A method of introducing high potentials into a dehydrator tank including a boot open at .one end, which method includes the steps of:

introducing a high potential into said tank through said boot; flowing a dielectric medium in a closed circulation path from one end of said tank into one portion of said boot under sufiicient pressure to circulate said dielectric medium through said boot and from said open end thereof to return to said one end of' said tank; maintaining a body of conducting liquid in said tank in such position that the dielectric medium fiows therethrough in returningto said one end of said tank; and electrically treating said dielectric medium flowing in said closed circulation path to purifysame.

19. A method of electrically treating an emulsion by the use of a tank and an insulator means, which method includes the steps of: introducing a high potential into said tank by use of said insulator means; establishing an electric field in said tank by use of said high potential; continuously introducing emulsion to be treated into said electric field; continuously withdrawing the emulsion constitutents from said tank; flowing in a closed circulation path in protecting relationship with said insulator means a stream of dielectric medium dissimilar to and substantially immiscible with said emulsion constituents; and establishing another electric field in said tank by use of said high potential and in such position that said dielectric medium fiowingin said closed circulation path moves therethrough for purification.

20. In a device for introducing electric current into a tank containing a body of conducting liquid therein, the combination of a boot extending in said tank from one end thereof through said body of conducting liquid and providing a space between said boot and said tank at said one end of said tank, said space containing a dielectric medium of a density different from said ductor means associated with said insulator means and extending from one end of said boot; and circulating means for withdrawing said dielectric medium from said space and introducing same into said boot to fiow in said boot around said insulator means and from said end of said boot, said dielectric medium 'then moving through said conducting liquid due to the dinerence in density of said dielectric medium and said conducting liquid and thus returning to said space.

21. A combination as defined in .claim 20 including means for establishing a potential difference between said boot and said conductor means to establish an electricvfield therebetween acting upon any contaminating particles in said dielectric medium. i

22. In an electric treater, the combination of:

a tank containing a dielectric medium in a space at one end thereof; an insulator means in said tank; walls forming a chamber around said insulator means;, electrode means in said tank; conductor means electrically connected to said electrode means and extending into said chamher to said insulator means; and thermal means for thermally circulating dielectric medium from said space into said chamber and thence to said space to form a closed circulation of said dielectric medium through said chamber.

23. A combination as defined in claim 22 in which said thermahmeans includes-a first conduit for delivering heated emulsion to said tank and a second conduit in heat-transferring relationship with said first conduit to be heated thereby, said second conduit communicating with said dielectric medium and delivering same to said chamber.

. CLARENCE F. KlECH. 

